The Biovantic Bear

by George Thomson

  As they sat in the soft light of the camp with Myrna tending her blisters Bailey thought that she could cope with the discomforts of the rest of the journey in exchange for the pleasures of the campsites.

  Bailey also had another, more personal, pleasure which she would not share with anybody. It was the making of new friends, some of whom were boys. The excitement she got from these tentative new relationships was still so new and personal that she could not share them with anybody.

  They had travelled almost due east from Jerusalem when they reached the major road running north all the way to Damascus. They were now on The Kings Highway. Travel would be easier and a little safer because of the number of travellers and the occasional contingent of Roman soldiers.

  They knew that they had nothing to fear from the soldiers. Those who belonged to The Way were considered by Rome to be Jews, and the Jewish religion was legal throughout the Empire and under the protection of Roman rule. It was only the local authorities of Jerusalem that they feared.

  At their present rate of travel, it would be another seven or eight days before they reached Damascus. Even so they were better situated than many of their fellow travellers who had no travel arrangements or planned destination.

  The plans that Peter had made for them before sending them off smoothed their way. They were able to send a runner ahead to contact Judas, one of Myrna’s close relatives. This ensured that, by the time they arrived, at least temporary arrangements for their accommodation would have been made. Bailey calculated that the runner would probably be in Damascus by tomorrow evening. She relaxed a little. The end seemed nearer now.

  Apart from discomfort, tiredness, and stiffness, the journey was uneventful. On the evening of the tenth day after their departure from Jerusalem they made camp early and within sight of Damascus. Again, a runner was sent to alert Judas of their impending arrival the following morning.

  What a difference one day makes. Everything was peaceful. The full realisation hit her. Today they would enter Damascus. Aching feet would be able to heal.

  Relief flooded them as they realised that the gates of the city were open and they could walk straight in. The city was accepting refugees. The anxiety they had secretly been carrying had come to nothing. They would not be turned back.

  Myrna joined Bailey and Ruth as they turned left into a winding street that went across the city. Myrna grinned at them, “We’re almost there. This is the longest street in the city. If you ever get lost, you can always find your way home. This street goes right across the city and intersects with all the streets running north or south. They call it Straight Street.” Spontaneous laughter burst out around them. “I can see why,” somebody said, observing its bends and twists.

  They stopped in front of one of the largest houses in the street. Myrna said, “This is the house of Judas. We are fortunate to have him in the family. He is very influential and a follower of The Way. A group of followers meet in this house in much the same way as they do - ah, I mean did, in my house.”

  Myrna, Ruth, Bailey and of course Duncan and Bear were taken into this house and shown a guest room which they could occupy. To the weary travellers this was pure luxury, almost like having their own household again. They were even allocated a servant to do their cooking, cleaning and to run messages. The rest of the group they had travelled with were taken to various households throughout the city. In this state of luxury, life continued peacefully for some time. Their coming had caused quite a stir in Damascus. It was a great encouragement to the believers in that city, and the stories and experiences that were being shared caused a dramatic increase in the number of followers there.

  If they had known what was about to happen their excitement may have been lost in anxiety. Back in the city of Jerusalem, Saul had not been standing idly around allowing events to take their own course. He was not a man to be thwarted in any task he undertook. He had been busy. His prey would not escape him. He would spare no effort to cleanse the blight of The Way from the name of the Jewish religion which he loved and from the honour of The Great One whom he served.

  He had wasted no time in visiting the court in Jerusalem and obtaining legal papers authorising the arrest and extradition of any of Saviour’s followers from the surrounding areas.

  Within the space of a few days, several messengers arrived in Damascus quite independently of each other, all bringing the same news. Saul, the militant leader of the movement against The Way in Jerusalem, was coming to Damascus.

  The news of the impending arrival of Saul and his contingent of officials from Jerusalem spread fear throughout the city. Every group of followers must now make their own decisions. Would they flee again, or stay? Bailey’s group decided to stay. At least they were protected by the influential household of Judas. They would trust in that protection and the presence of Saviour. They could not keep running for ever.

  Three days after the initial rumours of trouble reached them there was a knock on the door of the house of Judas. When the door was opened two men could be seen standing on the threshold. One stood tall and erect, looking every inch the sergeant of police that he was. The other was smaller and appeared disorientated and weak. He was visibly shaking and could not stand without support.

  The servant of Judas, who answered the door, took control. When he saw that he was confronted by an official from another city he said, “In what way can the household of Judas be of assistance to you, sir?”

  The sergeant answered with the clarity of his training, “We have been directed to this address as that of an important and trustworthy official in the city. We have a very sick man who cannot travel or participate further in our mission. We request shelter and care for our friend here. Could we speak to your master?”

  The servant replied, “My master is a good and kind man. There is no need to worry him about such a matter. We will provide rest and care. Our own doctors will care for him.”

  The sick man was taken to a small guest room and laid on a bed where he could rest comfortably. The departing sergeant left a small bag of coins to pay for any expenses. In this manner Saul was admitted to the household of Judas without anybody being aware of his identity.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE- DUNCAN AND BEAR

  Duncan was the first to discover the new guest in the household. It was his nose that led him to this discovery. He had smelt a weird mixture of terror and excitement, of sickness and vitality, and went to investigate. His nose took him to Saul’s bedside, where he settled himself comfortably. In the household of Judas, the beds were not raised from the floor like ours. They were mattresses placed comfortably on the floor. When Duncan settled himself on the floor beside the sleeping Saul, his nose was almost level with where Saul was lying.

  Duncan was completely unaware of who Saul was, or of his background, so he had no fear and was comfortable in his presence. He wanted to help. He sensed the man’s deep distress and knew exactly who would be best to help. He went looking for Bailey, but could not find her anywhere. He would have to help this troubled man by himself. He went back into his sleeping quarters where he found Bear, propped up in a corner, deep in his hibernation sleep.

  He went over to him and gave him a shake. “Bear, I need your help.” Bear slept on. Nothing was going to wake him now that hibernation had set in.

  No, that wasn’t quite right. There was one thing Duncan knew would wake Bear. He knew that for sure. Duncan was not like humans. Sometimes he didn’t have to think. He just knew things.

  He looked at Bear and burst into laughter. Somebody had put a belt around Bear’s waist. Bear hated belts. It wouldn’t have stayed there long if he had been awake. He would have been so embarrassed. But, for now, this was good. Duncan knew what to do now. He could drag Bear into the sick room without any danger of hurting him.

  He got his teeth firmly around the belt and pulled. Bear fell to the floor but continued to sleep. Bear
was big, but Duncan was strong, and he pulled with all his might. Little by little Bear slid along the hallway.

  Duncan found this very difficult. He moved slowly and carefully, so as not to knock anything over, or make a noise to attract attention. He hoped desperately that nobody would see him. He knew that he would be in big trouble if he was seen. He was not allowed to drag things around the house like this. Humans don’t always understand the things that a dog must do, but he knew that what he was doing would help.

  He was determined to assist this kind and gentle man lying helpless on the bed, whatever the cost, even if it meant being put outside, or receiving a punishment like being denied his biscuit. He would pay the price willingly. His belief that what he was doing was right and good was so strong that he would pay almost any price to see it through.

  He realised that this was much the same attitude as his humans had when spreading the good news of the Kingdom. He felt justified. Eventually, and without incident, he got Bear into the sick room and placed him close alongside the sick man. He knew that the close proximity of this man’s distress would soon wake Bear from his slumber. It was the only thing that would.

  Saul stirred, almost to the point of consciousness and reached out a hand. He made contact with something soft and warm. As he moved his hand over this soft, furry thing he was comforted. As consciousness returned, Saul realised what it was. It reminded him of when he was a little boy, safe and secure in his mother’s house, with his favourite, cuddly toy beside him; not a fear or worry in the world.

  Bear stirred. He felt Saul’s distress but did not speak. He simply moved a little closer to Saul and very gently gave him a hug. He knew that the kind of pain this man was feeling must not be intruded upon. He knew it must be absorbed without question or judgement.

  This was his third generation of experience in such matters. It was not the first time he had hibernated between the needs of the generations, nor the first time he had helped in situations such as this and absorbed the pain of suffering friends.

  He drew on that experience now. Like a poultice on a festering sore, he gradually drew the pain out of the mind and spirit of the man beside him. Saul burrowed deeply into the fur that he could feel. It was so comforting. In a very hesitant voice, almost a whisper, so unlike his usual manner, Saul began to tell his story. It was as if he was practicing for his confession before an adult audience later.

  It was just a few moments later that Bailey looked into the room and saw the sick guest hugging Bear. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Both Bear and the stranger were awake and talking together. How had this happened? She turned and continued down the corridor, deciding that it would be better to return later to see if there was anything she could do. She did not want to embarrass her guest by intruding right now.

  It was later, some time after the midday meal, that Bailey returned to the room of the sick man, as she had come to think of him, and saw that he was now sitting up and leaning against the wall. This was the most animated she had seen him since he arrived two days ago.

  Until she had seen him with Bear he had seemed almost paralysed. She noticed that the meal beside him was still untouched. This was a bit concerning. He had not eaten anything since his arrival and this was the third day.

  The doctor did not know what was wrong, except that he appeared to be suffering from some kind of shock and was blind. He thought that he had probably always been blind. His eyes were covered with some kind of scar tissue. To determine the cause for certain would need further investigation, but his initial diagnosis was that he had been born that way.

  Until now nobody had been able to talk to Saul as he had been only semi-conscious. All anybody knew about him was that he was some kind of official from Jerusalem. The one thing they all agreed on was that he must be someone important or they would never have sent a blind man as part of an official delegation.

  Bailey sat beside him, thinking that it might be good for him to have a companion. Bear was already leaning against the wall on one side of him and Duncan was lying with his head on the man’s lap, looking contented and at peace. Before she could decide on any remark to make to open a conversation, Saul spoke. “I like your animals.”

  Bailey smiled, “I think they are my best friends. They are always my companions but it is when I am in trouble that they become so special. They seem to love me just as much when I’m bad as when I’m good. The one on your right is Bear and the one on your lap is Duncan. I am Bailey.”

  Remembering how she had seen this man talking to Bear when she looked into the room earlier, and wanting to remove any embarrassment, she said, “Do you want to hear something really funny? Sometimes I actually talk to Bear. Mostly, it’s when I am in trouble, or have done something bad.”

  Very quietly the man said, “I am in trouble, more trouble than I could have ever imagined. I have done something bad, worse than I could ever have believed that badness could possibly be.”

  He paused. “My name is Saul, known as Saul of Tarsus.” Bailey stiffened momentarily, then relaxed. This man was not to be feared. The testimony of two witnesses could not be ignored. Duncan and Bear both trusted and loved this man.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR- ENEMY OR FRIEND?

  As Saul spoke, Bailey felt a strong sense of The Presence in the room with them. She realised now that there was no doubt as to the trustworthiness of this man. She had a third witness who could not be doubted, The Presence.

  Bailey told him that they knew why he had come to Damascus and how they had feared his coming and then continued, “But something has happened hasn’t it? I did not realise that you were blind. Why would they send a blind man?”

  Saul replied, “I was not blind when I left Jerusalem. But first, would you call the master of the house. Now that my identity is known, he must be given the chance to decide if I will be allowed to stay.”

  In her brief stay, Bailey had absorbed much of the atmosphere of the household, and now, sitting proud and confident, said, “This is the household of Judas. In this household, when need is a guest, no questions are asked and no judgements are made.” She felt confident in this statement but did wonder if Ruth would forgive so easily. Saul said again, “I was not blind when I left Jerusalem. Yes, something did happen on the way here that has changed my life for ever. Let me start at the beginning. Ever since I was a boy in my father’s household, in Tarsus, as far back as I can remember, I was a follower of The Great One. I was determined never to be simply a passive believer, but to actively defend the honour of his name in every way that presented itself.

  After coming to Jerusalem to complete my education, I was confronted with the teaching of Saviour. When the followers of Saviour claimed that he was alive, after being dead, I could not believe it. I saw the followers of The Way as being so completely misled, or deliberately wrong that they were destroying everything I believed in and stood for.”

  Saul held up his hand and said, “Please hear me out. I am not trying to defend myself, or justify what I was doing. I know how wrong I was. Saviour told me.”

  “You met Saviour?” Bailey was puzzled.

  Saul continued. “We were almost at Damascus, a group of about twenty of us, mounted on horses, when, without any warning, I was enveloped in a light so bright that it knocked me to the ground. I never knew that a light could have the physical force to actually push one over before. This light did.

  I knew that I was in the presence of something supernatural. I did not lose consciousness, rather, my senses were heightened, so that I seemed able to process a thousand thoughts in that one moment. I fell to the ground and even as I landed the light spoke to me, “Saul! Listen carefully.”

  I knew immediately what was happening but needed a moment to know how to respond. I could do nothing but respond with what was in my heart. I said, “What do I call you, commander of my life? He responded immediately, I am Saviour. The one you are hounding to de
ath.”

  Saul continued, “I could do nothing except marvel that I was still alive. The force of the light had knocked me to the ground, but the thing that hit me with greater force than this was the love in his voice when what I deserved was devastating punishment. He loved me, a violent, misguided murderer. I knew that this Saviour was what he had claimed to be. He was the Son of God. He was, as his followers claimed - alive, even after being dead. I was totally enfolded in the presence of Saviour.

  I knew that he was alive in The Presence that surrounded me so strongly and I knew that he was also alive in his followers, the members of The Way. My whole thinking was turned upside down. I now wanted to direct all my energies to serving him, so I asked him what he wanted me to do.”

  Bailey had a thousand questions. “What did he say he wanted you to do? Did the others in the group become followers too?”

  Saul held his hand up again in a wait a moment gesture. “No, I was the only one who became a believer. In fact, for some reason, I was the only one he spoke to. The others were confused by what was happening and did not understand. They saw the light and heard a noise but did not hear any words. For some reason I was singled out. Perhaps I will understand when the messenger comes.”

  Bailey was remembering Alias and broke in excitedly, “You are expecting a visit from an angel?”

  “No.” Saul replied, “At least I don’t think so. When Saviour spoke to me out of the light on the road he told me that I would be given instructions as to what I must do when I got to Damascus.”

  Then a realisation hit him. He turned to Bailey and said, “Do you know? Has he told you anything? Think hard.”

  “No.” Bailey said, “I don’t know any more than you have told me.” Then, with mischief in her voice, she said, “Bear might know. I saw you talking to him earlier.”

  For the first time since meeting him, Bailey saw a smile light up his face as he said, “No, I am convinced Bear knows many things but he is not speaking. I think your friend, Duncan, knows more than he lets on also but my knowledge of dog talk is very limited. When I was a boy there was a dog I used to talk to a lot. We spent a lot of time together, that dog and I. I don’t know if we understood each other or not, but we spent a lot of time talking.